Who keeps a personal 'Pet Loads' book?

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GeoDudeFlorida

GeoDudeFlorida

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When I first started handloading - as opposed to "just reloading" - the first piece of advice I got from the old fellers who helped me get started is, keep a pet loads book. It's my set of personal recipes for what works, what doesn't, what I've tried and what I was told "might" work. I lost my original book decades ago in a move. Started a new one. Then got out of hand loading and reloading for some time. Lost the second one from carelessness during that lapse. Started a third one and it's still with me. I also keep some recipes just in a spreadsheet or a label-making database, not written down anywhere else. I'm thinking that's a mistake I need to correct over the holiday break.

Anyways, I'm curious what other experienced hand loaders and reloaders do. Do you keep a book? If so, is it written, typed, just digital, a blend...? And, if you don't keep a pet loads book, how do you keep track of your best - and worst - loads?

This place is a fantastic resource of personal experiences and data I do not intend to let go to waste. :)
 
I use a 3x5 notebook that I added divider tabs by caliber to, I keep pet load data there and keep all loads, good and not so good in a spreadsheet. I keep the pet load book in my large gun safe.

It works for me..

Good Luck
Dan
 
I have a small spiral notebook that has each load I have loaded record on its own page in the notebook. I add notes to how much I like or dislike it or any issue to be aware of. When I chronograph the load (nearly all the loads have chrono data) that data gets recorded with the load data, both velocity info and the gun and chronograph it was measured with. For easy access, especially when I am away from my reloading room all the data in the notebook is duplicated in an Excel Spreadsheet which is handy as I can sort the loads by any of a variety of parameters and access it from the cloud.
 
I created a paper form for my load data. For each session/lot I fill in the blanks. I duplicate the data in a spreadsheet with filters set up in the various columns. I created an electronic form so I could use my phone to enter the data while at the reloading bench.

One of the columns is labeled Pet Load with a checkbox. I check the box for the lot that I want to keep as a pet load. I can then filter on that column to show just my Pet Loads, print the results and add it to my load book.
 
I converted from paper to electronic a few years ago. Backed up on the cloud.

Now I always have my records a minute away, even if I’m across the country.
 
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I keep a spiral notebook for all loads tried with all parameters recorded. There is a note section for observations and remarks.
I also mark load information onto stick on labels and label eack box of ammo.
I do not use any electronic storage for my records. I haven't had a "system error" with a notebook yet.
 
Designed a sheet with all the columns I need to enter pertinent information in, printed out the sheet onto many sheets of paper front and back spiral bound it along with some general reloading guidelines with pictures at the front and have a nice thick paper cover for front and back.

When working up loads they get written in the spiral bound paper book, then inputted into an excel sheet. I prefer to have something physical (pen and paper) to work off of, but see the definite benefits of having it stored electronically. My load data is quick to access from my phone then.
 
I've been reloading for 47 years, but even back at the beginning I used a three-ring binder to record all my loads and data. Now I use an Excel spreadsheet to record every load I make, not just the good ones. I sure don't want to try the bad ones over again!
 
My first foray into loading notes was with the old Lee reloading software. Archaic, for sure, but I still have those printouts today. I've since moved to simple Excel spreadsheets... actually, about 5 of them to keep track of not only load data (included with loaded cartridges,) but shooter's notes (velocity, temperature, general impressions...) and even inventory.

I don't know if I have a listing of 'pet' loads, per se, but I know what works, so that's what I load... but it also depends on each cartridge, and sometimes what it's going into. I don't expect absolute accuracy out of my 9mm handloads, I expect them to function 100%, so that's what I load to. My Savage .308 bolt gun is a different story, however....and that is where my shooter's notes come in handy.
 
I keep an excel workbook. Everything I have ever tried with “pet loads” cataloged for fast reference. I’ve moved this workbook from machine to machine for over 20 years now. I’m sure I have lost a physical book before, and I have had a computer stolen as well as multiple hard drive crashes, but I have never lost TWO digital copies simultaneously - simple backup, I use a wireless hard drive now kept in a fire safe, plus I’ll find myself emailing it to myself a few times per year. Worst thing I could ever lose would be the newest few months of new data, which simply isn’t that much.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
When I first started handloading - as opposed to "just reloading" - the first piece of advice I got from the old fellers who helped me get started is, keep a pet loads book. It's my set of personal recipes for what works, what doesn't, what I've tried and what I was told "might" work. I lost my original book decades ago in a move. Started a new one. Then got out of hand loading and reloading for some time. Lost the second one from carelessness during that lapse. Started a third one and it's still with me. I also keep some recipes just in a spreadsheet or a label-making database, not written down anywhere else. I'm thinking that's a mistake I need to correct over the holiday break.

Anyways, I'm curious what other experienced hand loaders and reloaders do. Do you keep a book? If so, is it written, typed, just digital, a blend...? And, if you don't keep a pet loads book, how do you keep track of your best - and worst - loads?

This place is a fantastic resource of personal experiences and data I do not intend to let go to waste. :)
Click to expand...
I have never heard of anyone who doesn't keep a log of favorite loads.
 
I have 2 three ring binders. One for good loads I use now and one for tried that/want to try that loads. Looking in it helps me save resources when I find that I already tried something and forgot that it was a bust. I might someday take the time to move it to a computer file. Naaa who am I kidding.:p
 
I have a notebook for each caliber I reload. Then I put a Table Of Contents at the front with a brief of each load (115 Berry's PLRN, 4.5 Win231, page##). Then I can look and see all the loads at a glance. My 'Pet' loads will appear many times as I load in batches of 100-200 at a time. The actual page in the notebook has all the details and notes.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
When I first started handloading - as opposed to "just reloading" - the first piece of advice I got from the old fellers who helped me get started is, keep a pet loads book. It's my set of personal recipes for what works, what doesn't, what I've tried and what I was told "might" work. I lost my original book decades ago in a move. Started a new one. Then got out of hand loading and reloading for some time. Lost the second one from carelessness during that lapse. Started a third one and it's still with me. I also keep some recipes just in a spreadsheet or a label-making database, not written down anywhere else. I'm thinking that's a mistake I need to correct over the holiday break.

Anyways, I'm curious what other experienced hand loaders and reloaders do. Do you keep a book? If so, is it written, typed, just digital, a blend...? And, if you don't keep a pet loads book, how do you keep track of your best - and worst - loads?

This place is a fantastic resource of personal experiences and data I do not intend to let go to waste. :)
Click to expand...
My load data books have hand written notes in them noting my test results.
 
Decades ago I kept a small notebook for each gun. In it I would record not just load data, but dimensions, shots fired, and anything else related to the gun. Back when I had lots of different guns and liked to experiment with them, those books were invaluable.

Nowdays (well, before Covid drastically curtailed my shooting) I have only a few guns (revolvers, almost entirely) that I use on a regular basis, and they are all set dimensionally to take advantage of my "standard" loads. For example, the three .44 Specials that are regular range guns are all made to handle a .431" bullet of 16-1 lead-tin, so when I pick up any box of .44 Special ammunition in my shop it will have either a LRN bullet - 6 grains of Unique - or a SWC - 7.5 grains of Unique. The same sort of thing is true for my .45 Colts and my .357 Mags. In other words, I've simplified to the point where I have half-a-dozen loads memorized and they all work perfectly for any of the guns in which I am likely to use them.

Of course, every once in a while I like to pick up a stranger from my safe, and then I am glad to have its book to go along with it.
 
Lee Precision has a free loose leaf form one can print off to keep records. Loose leaf binder and index sheets available from any thrift or resale shop.
 
I keep a record of every handload I assemble. First on my computer and I print out a copy for a 3 ring binder I keep in the shop. I have records back to '97 and I also keep a rimfire log with results of manufacturere, bullet weights and velocity. I can very easily go through my binder that also has good targets and comments about every shooting session with each load. I really don't need a reloading manual even though I quite often, nearly always, refer to one of mine, as I can easily go to my binder and find a good load. I don't know exactly when I started, but I have notes on scraps of paper that go back to some of my early 38 Special loads, maybe '85?...
 
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.38 Special said:
Decades ago I kept a small notebook for each gun. In it I would record not just load data, but dimensions, shots fired, and anything else related to the gun. Back when I had lots of different guns and liked to experiment with them, those books were invaluable.

Nowdays (well, before Covid drastically curtailed my shooting) I have only a few guns (revolvers, almost entirely) that I use on a regular basis, and they are all set dimensionally to take advantage of my "standard" loads. For example, the three .44 Specials that are regular range guns are all made to handle a .431" bullet of 16-1 lead-tin, so when I pick up any box of .44 Special ammunition in my shop it will have either a LRN bullet - 6 grains of Unique - or a SWC - 7.5 grains of Unique. The same sort of thing is true for my .45 Colts and my .357 Mags. In other words, I've simplified to the point where I have half-a-dozen loads memorized and they all work perfectly for any of the guns in which I am likely to use them.

Of course, every once in a while I like to pick up a stranger from my safe, and then I am glad to have its book to go along with it.
Click to expand...
---
Off topic a little but I have seen a few people in this thread - and a few others - say that the COVID plandemic had interrupted their regular shooting routine. I still work a regular 7-7 job and can only go to an indoor range once every weekend or so. COVID hasn't interrupted that but it has interrupted my supply chains. Out of curiosity, why can't you go shooting as often? Here in Florida, gun stores and ranges were considered essential businesses and never closed down.
 
I have a note book for each caliber I load for. Nothing fancy by any means. When I do a work up for something new or try different components for something I have been loading I generally use a small 3" sticky target on a sheet of blank printer paper. Each one of those sheets gets the combination written down on the sheet before it goes to the range. When I get home the best group goes up on the wall next to my reloading bench.

For handy reference while sitting at the bench I look up and can see all of the details of any particular load and the group it produced.
 
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